Convicted Paterson mayor Martin Barnes on a stamp? Are you kidding?

JOHN O'BOYLE / THE STAR-LEDGERPaterson Mayor Martin Barnes leaves his office in Paterson City Hall in January 2002 after his federal indictment.

Martin Barnes was no run-of-the-mill taker of bribes.

The ex-Paterson mayor wasn’t satisfied with fat envelopes of cash. This was castles, swimming pools and hookers-in-Rio-style bribery. Barnes’ menu of payoffs showed an over-the-top creativity and narcissistic flair that had other dirty Jersey politicians calling their bribers to complain.

Elected in 1997, Barnes was Paterson’s first black mayor. Six years later, he got 37 months.

Now, in honor of Black History Month, his old Passaic County cronies think his mug belongs on a postage stamp. His photo was displayed by the county freeholders earlier this week, as an honorary 45-cent stamp, alongside cops, judges, educators, businessmen, clergy and other Passaic County politicians — none of whom have a record, as far as we know.

Highlights from the FBI’s case against Barnes:

• United Gunite got $16 million in contracts by bribing Barnes with designer suits and dinners. They bought him a backyard pool — waterfall included — and international vacations.

• Barnes took his wife on contractor-paid trips to the Kentucky Derby, a casino in Aruba and a $400-a-night English castle. He took a mistress to a Michigan business meeting and charged taxpayers more than $1,000 — though his bribers paid all expenses.

• In Rio De Janeiro, Gunite paid for four female "companions" and $1,000 in room service. Ten days later, the company got a big contract.

At sentencing, after pleading guilty to tax evasion and mail fraud, the judge gave Barnes a chance to apologize to his constituents. He refused.

Asked this week if he deserves his face on a stamp, Barnes bragged his record of "level taxes" spoke for itself.

Clearly, chutzpah never fades.

Jimmy Richardson, the historian who included Barnes among Paterson’s Black History Month honorees, says he now regrets his poor judgment. He wanted to honor history, he says. He dishonored it.

As Paterson’s first African-American mayor, Barnes gets a footnote in the history books.
Nothing more.

Next time, save the accolades for those whose careers didn’t end in prison. Whatever good Barnes accomplished is buried beneath his felonies.

Barnes is a corrupt politician, a crook of the highest order. Whether he’s black or white should be a distant concern.